What is the purpose of 'Authorization Profiles' in Cisco ISE?

Authorization Profiles in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) serve a crucial role in defining the permissions and access rights for users who have been successfully authenticated. When a user attempts to connect to the network, Cisco ISE evaluates their credentials and, upon successful authentication, applies the relevant authorization profile. This profile dictates what resources the user can access, the type of network services they are entitled to, and any restrictions that may apply to their usage.

For instance, different user groups may require different levels of access based on their roles within the organization. An authorization profile can specify whether a user can access sensitive systems, use specific applications, or connect to particular VLANs. The granularity of these settings helps organizations maintain strong security postures by ensuring that users only have access to what is necessary for their tasks.

Each profile can include rules and conditions to enforce policies based on various factors, such as user role, device type, or even location. This level of control is essential in managing diverse environments where different users and devices require tailored access levels for compliance and security reasons.